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WHAT IS PRICKLY PORC ABOUTBen was born young and has yet to grow up. While even younger than he is now he had, for some time, a little pet porcupine. He rightly named him Prickly. While Prickly was a baby, he carried him in his vest pocket until Prickly out grew it. Prickly enjoyed being petted. Ben enjoyed petting him as long as he stroked him in the right direction. When with Ben Prickly kept his quills laid back, that is, unless a dog or stranger approached. At which point, unless in the safety of his vest pocket, Prickly would bristle. Ben would pick him up --- very carefully and hold him. You must be careful when handling porcupines. Prickly would quickly settle down and grunt contentedly. At about five months old, Ben says, I carried Prickly back to the forest and rocks where I had found him lost and alone. I searched for his parents to no avail. He didnt need parents when I returned him to the forest. He had learned to climb trees and that is what he did. He liked to chew the bark. It was good porcupine food for him. After watching him up the tree of his choice for an hour or so, Ben said good-by and left him happily on his own. I came back, Ben said, to check on Prickly a number of times. The first few times he climbed down from whatever tree he was in to see me. The last time there was another Prickly around to keep him company. They were friends. Prickly was happy and I was happy for him. Ben moved to Alaska where there are many more Prickles, but Prickly was the only one he ever had for a pet. I will always remember him. When I had a family of my own I told my children stories about Little Prickly Porc: bedtime stories I made up one after another: Prickly Porc And His Rock Band, Prickly Porc Sails To Japan. Prickly Porc Falls In Love With Pretty Porc, Prickly Porc Becomes A Man Of The World. Every night it was a different Prickly story. I dont remember them all, but the kids do. Prickly Porc And The Tin Can Pony Tail Man. (What was that about?) Ben has told the stories to many school classes, as well. None of the Prickly stories are about comic book mechanical creatures that blow up the world, and kill millions of animals and people. Prickly Porc stories are about a loveable little Porcupine who just likes to have fun --- and create a little mischief on the side. Have fun with Prickly. I did and still do.Bens advice to parents and teachers: Kids are smarter than most of us. When you read to children dont read down to them. Challenge them with new words. Their thinking, in its simple understanding of the complicated world around them, is more acute than yours. Teach them, but spend time listening to them, too. You wont be wasting your time. You will learn from them. Have fun with them. I still am.&&&show more